Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

O’NeillEAGLES
By: Austin Miller
The 2016 season will be a hard
one to top for the O’Neill Eagles.
Last year, the Eagles completed an
undefeated season, winning their
first-ever state title. Head Coach
Brock Eichelberger has quite the
nucleus returning this season, but
repeating could be a difficult task
for the Eagles.
This year’s team returns four
starters on offense and five
on defense, including star
quarterback Alex Thramer.
Thramer, like the team last
year, was practically flawless.
As a junior, he threw for 2,300
yards, 28 touchdowns and zero
interceptions. Thramer also ran for
more than 350 yards and added
nine rushing touchdowns.
“Alex has a great presence in the
pocket, is very confident, and puts
the ball where it needs to be,”
Eichelberger said.
Thramer will also have a pair of
targets returning this season in
Wyatt Liewer and Justin Appleby.
At 6-foot-4, Liewer is a huge target
on the outside and an imposing
red zone threat for defenses.
Last year, Liewer had 600 yards
receiving while also hauling in
eight touchdowns. Liewer is also
a playmaker in the secondary,
snagging four interceptions and
deflecting six other passes.
“He was our ‘lock down’
defender,” Eichelberger said.
“Wyatt is a big-time playmaker
and will play a huge part in what
we do offensively and defensively
this season.”
Opposite of Liewer is Appleby,
who’s one of the top returning
players in Class C1. Last season,
Appleby caught 46 passes for 768
yards and 11 touchdowns. Like
Liewer, Appleby is also a turnover
machine in the secondary. During
his junior season, Appleby
intercepted five passes, deflected
another two, and also forced a
fumble. Two of those interceptions
came in the state title game.
“Justin is a very intelligent
player,” Eichelberger added. “His
craftiness and attention to detail
when running routes is one of the
biggest reasons for his success.”
Despite the star power coming
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 @ Grand Island Central Catholic
9/1 Ord
9/8 Boone Central/Newman Grove
9/15 @ Columbus Lakeview
9/22 @ West Point-Beemer
9/29 Norfolk Catholic
10/6 @ Pierce
10/13 Madison
10/19 Wayne
back, Eichelberger, like any coach,
views this season as an uphill
battle. While the target is certainly
on their back, he has seven other
teams ranked ahead of his own.
It could certainly be one of those
motivational tools coaches use
to keep their team hungry, but it
also shows the amount of talent
other teams have coming back.
Regardless, with weapons O’Neill
has back, they will certainly be in
the hunt this fall.
Key Players:
Alex Thamer (6’4” 175 lbs) Sr. QB
Wyatt Liewer (6’4” 175 lbs) Sr.
WR/DB
Justin Appleby (6’0” 180 lbs) Sr.
WR/DB
506 East Douglas, O’Neill, NE - 402-336-1550 - torpinsrodeomarket@gmail.com
1-800-KROTTER | 305 West Douglas Street, O’Neill, NE 68763
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(402) 564-6077
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(402) 386-5297
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Fax: (402) 386-5296
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P.O. Box 836
1100 E. Douglas Street
O’Neill, NE 68763
(402) 336-1474
Toll Free: (877) 336-1474
Fax: (402) 336-1372
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Eagles
Class: C1
2016 Record: 13-0
Playoff Appearances: 7
Head Coach: Brock Eichelberger
Career Record: 95-52
Assistant Coaches: Brett Kaczor,
Ed Johnson and Seth Kallhoff
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ph. 402.336.3245 - fax 402-336-2282 - stadium_sports@hotmail.com - 418 E. Douglas - O’Neill, NE
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